The language and the “people” of the unconscious are symbols, and the means of communications dreams. Thus an examination of Man and his Symbols is in effect an examination of man’s relation to his own unconscious. And since in Jung’s view the unconscious is the great guide, friend, and adviser of the conscious, this book is related in the most direct terms to the study of human beings and their spiritual problems.
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In short, Jung’s insights need to be considered as one of the latest and greatest manifestations of the stream of alternative spirituality which descends from the Gnostics.
CG Jung: Thoughts grow in me like a forest, populated by many different animals. But man is domineering in his thinking, and therefore he kills the pleasure of the forest and that of the wild animals. Man is violent in his desire, and he himself becomes a darker forest and a sickened forest animal. Just as I have freedom in the world, I also have freedom in my thoughts. Freedom is conditional.
As Jung says more clearly of Christ: This Gnostic Christ, symbolizes man’s original unity and exalts it as the saving goal of his development.
Christ / development / Gnostic / Jung / unity
Jung identifies the Anthropos (Primal Man or Original Man), Christ, and the Son with God. The Anthropos begins as part of the unconscious godhead, emerges as an independent ego, eventually forgets his unconscious origin, must be reminded of it by the godhead, and then returns to it to form a unified.
Anthropos / Christ / ego / Jung / unconscious
Jung’s search for the soul, then, stands at one with the search for appropriately dialogical and differentiated language.
dialogical / Jung / language / soul